Mosquito Head Nets

Have you tried Simblissity's net? (sold on BPL here)

i literally tried to eat my food through it several times – great see-thru net, simple design, practically weighs nothing…

I thought about getting one of them, but they do not seem to be available right now. I am guessing that it is a seasonal item. There is also the fact that they cost $20 compared to the $3 and $7 ones that I was looking at. Do you really think it is worth it?

P.S. Which one were you referring to?

This one:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/ultralight_headnet.html

or this one:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/ultralight_noseeum_headet.html

or nether?

The BPL mosquito (large mesh) net really is fantastic. Worn over a ball cap it disappears.

This one:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/ultralight_headnet.html

you can sign up for the stock notification alert.. yes i know they are always out of these, but i waited for one, i got it and i love it.

Those cheap mosquito head nets work fine, but they can be hot to hike in during the summer months (ie. when the bugs are actually active). If you just want to use it in camp, you can't really go wrong as they are all pretty much the same (at least the ones that I've seen).

But, I also recommend the simBLISSity UL bug net and not because its a hair lighter (though that helps). The hole size isn't really good for no-seeums, but against mosquitos works very well and the important thing, it's cooler then the standard heavier head nets due to the larger mesh size and it doesn't block your vision as much.

Is th larger mesh size what allows the no-see-ums to get in. Would you suggest get the no-seem-um head net instead? Ill be doing a thru-hike on the AT. Fill me in. Thanks =)

Another vote for the Simblissity BPL headnet. Surely, they'll be in stock by the time you need them.

FWIW, I bought an OR Spring Ring. The thing is horrible! I can barely see out of it, it's like walking around blindfolded. Better to deal with the bugs than trip over something.

There's a definite trade off between the mosquito netting and noseeum versions. While the noseeum version will protect you against anything, the problem is that if it's hot out it can be stifling.

One time hiking on a 95F day I ran into a major swarm of gnats and pulled out my noseeum head net. I found myself walking a minute or so with the head net on, then having to pull it up to gasp air (and gnats) for a few seconds…repeated ad infinitum for a couple of miles until I got out of the gnat cloud area. The mosquito netting ones make breathing much easier…but I may have been swallowing gnats the whole time rather than for a minute here and there.

I don't have any experience with the AT to tell you how valuable the protection from noseeums might be.

I don't think there's any such thing as "too cheap" with mosquito headnets, I use ones from Walmart and they work fine for me LoL

Something in the middle price wise would be the Sea to Summit Mosquito Head Net.

http://seatosummit.com/products/display/9

I picked one up locally for $7.99 a few days ago while waiting for the BPL model to go back in stock. Looks similar to the Backpacking Light Ultralight Mosquito Headnet. It isn't no-see-um but has good visibility and breathability. At 30g in the stuff sack it is a bit heavier than the BPL model though.

I wear it over my sunhat. Seems fine. Forget it's there. Tried to drink through it.

Suspect little stuff sac weights more than the mesh.

another vote for Sea to Summit Mosquito Head Net. It's always in my pack during the bug season.

They advertise that it reaches the shoulders. Suppose it depends. I am relatively small (5'5") and it doesn't cover my shoulders.

Last week on the Turkish Coast:

Despite repellent, bit through my wool shirt…

Treat your clothing next time with Permithrin and you won't have that trouble. I tried it out this year for the Sierra Neveda when I passed through in late June thru-mid July and found that I didn't have issues with them biting through the fabric; in fact they didn't seem to want to settle on my clothing for any length of time before flying off.

Most (if not all) wind shirts or rain shells work to prevent bug bites. Wool or fleece doesn't.